Light field imaging with scanning optical unit

Abstract

An optical device comprises a light source and a detector, and also a sample holder, which is configured to fix an object in the optical path of light. A scanning optical unit is configured, for a multiplicity of scanning positions, in each case selectively to direct light incident from different angular ranges from the object onto the detector. On the basis of a three-dimensional light field represented by corresponding measurement data of the multiplicity of scanning positions, a spatially resolved imaging of the object is generated, said imaging comprising at least two images from different object planes of the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical device for light field imaging, wherein the optical device comprises:
 a light source configured to emit light along an optical path, 
 a detector, 
 a sample holder, which is arranged in the optical path downstream of the light source and upstream of the detector and which is configured to fix an object in the optical path of light, 
 a scanning optical unit, which is arranged in the optical path downstream of the sample holder and upstream of the detector and which is configured, for each of a multiplicity of scanning positions, selectively to direct light incident from different angular ranges from the object onto the detector, 
 wherein the detector is configured to detect measurement data for each of the multiplicity of scanning positions, and 
 a computing unit, which is coupled to the detector and which is configured, on the basis of a three-dimensional light field represented by the measurement data of the multiplicity of scanning positions to generate a spatially resolved imaging of the object that comprises at least two images from different object planes of the object; 
 wherein the optical device furthermore comprises a field stop arranged in an image plane of the scanning optical unit; 
 wherein the optical device furthermore comprises a collimator optical unit,
 wherein the collimator optical unit is arranged in the optical path downstream of the scanning optical unit and upstream of the detector, 
 wherein the collimator optical unit is configured in each case to focus the angular ranges of the light which passes through a field stop onto a pixel of the detector, 
 wherein the optical device comprises a movable stage, which is movable between a first position and a second position, 
 wherein the collimator optical unit is coupled to the movable stage, 
 wherein the collimator optical unit is positioned in the optical path in the first position of the movable stage, 
 wherein the collimator optical unit is not positioned in the optical path in the second position of the movable stage, 
 wherein the field stop is coupled to the movable stage, 
 
 wherein the field stop is positioned in the optical path in the first position of the movable stage, and 
 wherein the field stop is not positioned in the optical path in the second position of the movable stage. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical device according to  claim 1 , which furthermore comprises:
 an imaging optical unit, which is arranged in the optical path and which brings about an imaging of the object with a depth of field, 
 wherein the object planes of the at least two images are at a distance from one another that is greater than the depth of field. 
 
     
     
       3. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the detector comprises a photomultiplier, and 
 wherein the photomultiplier comprises a multiplicity of pixels. 
 
     
     
       4. The optical device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the detector comprises, for each pixel of the photomultiplier, an optical waveguide having a first end facing the sample holder and a second end facing the respective pixel. 
 
     
     
       5. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the collimator optical unit is of aplanatic design. 
 
     
     
       6. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the detector is arranged in the focal plane of the collimator optical unit facing away from the object. 
 
     
     
       7. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the collimator optical unit is designed as a zoom optical unit, and 
 wherein the zoom optical unit is configured to image the angular ranges of the light with variable focal length onto the detector. 
 
     
     
       8. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an aperture of the field stop and the multiplicity of the scanning positions are configured in such a way that at least two scanning positions have overlapping field regions. 
 
     
     
       9. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an aperture of the field stop and the multiplicity of the scanning positions are configured in such a way that the multiplicity of the scanning positions have no overlapping field regions. 
 
     
     
       10. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an aperture of the field stop has a variable diameter in at least one direction. 
 
     
     
       11. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the field stop has a diameter that is in the range of 2-20 Airy units. 
 
     
     
       12. The optical device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the optical device is designed as a laser scanning microscope.